Is there anyone who does not remember Li Yue? Eleven-year-old ballet dancer, earthquake victim from Sichuan, with her left leg amputated ever since? She has long since been regarded a hero in China. Now she is known to the world and has become a girl that puts a face to the fate of thousands of children. The world is forgetful and needs such memorable people. While the fabulous opening ceremonies in the "Bird's Nest" were filled with highlights, the girl in the wheelchair can be considered a dramaturgical focal point around whom the entire choreography revolved.

Of course, here in the workshop in the Paralympic Village, it isn't possible to tell whether the opening ceremonies came across on TV the same way as they did for us "live" in the stadium. Perhaps it was not as noticeable on television that the long waiting time for athletes criticized in Athens was thankfully reduced significantly in the catacombs of the Olympic Stadium in Beijing. The seemingly endless convoy of team buses arrived at the stadium at the same time as the buses for all other 90,000 visitors. Letting the teams march in early and witness the ceremonies, which in the end are intended for them, was exemplary.

What did the athletes say to these opening ceremonies? Caj Jinfen at the workshop reception desk talked to those who came with repair jobs today, from the Russian Alexey Ashapatov to the Briton Keiron Murphy to Dorn Shaziri from Israel. The response: Fantastic opening ceremonies. What I liked most of all: The fireworks display was a splendid, imposing finale but also ended while it was still a fabulous gala rather than becoming a spectacle.  

You might even say: Nobody was surprised that the Chinese organizers are able to pull off a mega-show. But creativity and emotion remained the essence of these opening ceremonies, awaked by perfectionism rather than being smothered by it.

After leaving the national stadium, I walked back a good half hour in order to let the entire experience sink in. In the vicinity of the press office, athletes were heading for the buses on their way home accompanied by applause and cheers from volunteers and passers-by. These opening ceremonies created a spark and were, in the words of IPC president Sir Philip Craven, "inspiring".

By the way, Katarina Witt also came to Beijing on Saturday in order to attend the opening ceremonies. On Tuesday the ZDF (Second German Television) is filming a segment here on the relief action of the Otto Bock Foundation, supported by the Katarina Witt Foundation, for the benefit of children that fell victim to natural disasters in China and Burma. Children like Li Yue.